Clinical and Experimental Obstetrics & Gynecology (CEOG) is published by IMR Press from Volume 47 Issue 1 (2020). Previous articles were published by another publisher on a subscription basis, and they are hosted by IMR Press on imrpress.com as a courtesy and upon agreement with S.O.G.
Fetal movements following intrapartum maternal opiate administration
Fetal movements were quantified prior to and after administration of intramuscular Diamorphine in thirteen labouring women. A significant reduction in the number of fetal heart rate accelerations was observed following Diamorphine. Thirty minutes after Diamorphine, all fetal movement parameters had returned to pre-Diamorphine values. If tetal movement detection is to be incorporated into an assessment of intrapartum fetal well being, the transient influence of narcotic analgesia must be allowed for.